beware

verb

be·​ware bi-ˈwer How to pronounce beware (audio)
bē-

intransitive

: to be on one's guard
beware of the dog

transitive

1
: to take care of
beware your wallet
2
: to be wary of
We must … beware the exceedingly tenuous generalization …Matthew Lipman

Examples of beware in a Sentence

A ghostly voice cried “Beware!”. He told them to beware. The restaurant's food is excellent, but beware the chili if you don't like spicy food.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The bureau advises gamblers to beware promises of big payouts, tempting ads with no details, sweepstakes-style games, overseas business locations and payment through cryptocurrency. Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026 For those neighbors who are not consistently shoveling or are still using space savers, beware. Mike Sullivan, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026 So beware the garden-apartment wedge. Clio Chang, Curbed, 4 Feb. 2026 Patriots fans beware — the bar will be packed with 12s. Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 30 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for beware

Word History

Etymology

Middle English been war, from been "to be" + war "cognizant, ware entry 1"

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of beware was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Beware.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beware. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

beware

verb
be·​ware bi-ˈwa(ə)r How to pronounce beware (audio)
-ˈwe(ə)r
1
: to be on one's guard
beware of the dog
2
: to be suspicious of
beware the quick excuse

More from Merriam-Webster on beware

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster